difficulty
The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
Noun 4 meanings
The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
“My mom is old and has a lot of difficulty (in) remembering all her grandchildren's names.”
An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
“We faced a difficulty in trying to book a flight so late.”
Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning
“2012 August 2, "Children rescued after getting into difficulties in Donegal" BBC Online”
An objection.
Etymology
From Middle English difficulte, from Middle French and Anglo-Norman difficulte and their etymon Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile and difficult. Equivalent to dis- + facile + -ty.
Similar and opposite words
DIFFICULTY at a glance
DIFFICULTY has 10 letters and scores 22 points in Scrabble (D 2 + I 1 + F 4 + F 4 + I 1 + C 3 + U 1 + L 1 + T 1 + Y 4) and 24 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #3,999 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with difficulty
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